Railroad crossing gate



June 14, 1932. E. c. KRAGE RAILROAD CROSSING GATE Filed June 27, 1930 8Sheets-Sheet l E. C. KRAGE June 14, 1932.

RAILROAD CROSS ING GATE Filed June 27, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zak/afor-.lT77ze7 6. Kra ge U gs m E. C. KRAGE RAILROAD CRO SSING GATE I June 14,1932.

Filed June 27, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zmer 6' Luge June 14, 1932. E. c.KRAGE 1,863,310

RAILROAD CROSSING GATE Filed June 27, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Zz dew)? Z/Zmer 6i .Krqqe E. C KRAGE June 14, 1932.

RAILROAD CROSS ING GATE Filed June 27. 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 fidezzzorZZmer 6? Edge ww E. C. KRAGE June 14, 1932.

RAILROAD CROS SING GATE Filed June 27, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Inf,"

QLb C June 14, 1932. E, Q KRAGE 1,863,310

RAILROAD CROSSING GATE Filed June 27, 1930 8 Sheets-$heet 7 fidezzfofl 2577767" C j rage J E. c. KRAGE RAILROAD cRossING GATE Filed June 27,1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 JFzUwzzfor; Emer Cf fi fa e Patented June 14, 1932PATENT OFFKIE ELMER G. KRAGE, OF ELMHURST, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO ED'WAR-D F.

STUENKEL, F HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS RAILROAD CROSSING GATE Applicationfiled June 27, 1930. Serial No. 464,190.

. This invention relates to improvements in gates for railroad crossingswhich will be automatic in operation upon the approach and departure ofa train, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide animproved gate of this character which will operate to stop the vehicle,the driver of which disregards the signal, when a train is approaching,without injury to either the .1 gate or the vehicle.

A further object is to provide in an improved fgate of this charactermeans for locking the gate in its loweredor barricading position andwhich gate is of a construction 1:; that when struck by a car or othervehicle will yield sufficiently, without becoming unlocked, to protectboth the car and the gate, and the gate will, if a vehicle is advancedtoo far towards the track before thegate is low- 20 ered, yieldand-slide over the vehicle as the latter passes thereunder.

' A further object's to provide improved means for locking the gate inits lowered position and which locking means will, if a vehicle iscaught between the gates, permit the gate to swing laterally to permitthe vehicle to escape. If the gate when lowered and locked is dislocatedlaterally by impact from a vehicle, it cannot be raised until thevehicle is moved clear of the gate.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful ob jects as will appear, the invention consists in the featuresof novelty in substantially thelconstruction, combination andarrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described andclaimed and shown in the accompanyingdrawings illustrating thisinvention, and in which Figure 1 is a view partly in front elevation,partly broken away and with parts omitted, of a railroad crossing gateof this character constructed in accordance with the principles of thisinvention, and showing the gates in a lowered or barricading position. v

Figure 2 is-a vertical sectional view taken on line 22, Figure 1,; on anenlarged scale, with parts omitted and with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of one of the clutches as taken online 1-4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an irregular sectional view taken on line 5-5, Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 66, Figure5.

Figure 7 is an elevation of a member for assisting in shifting theclutch.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88, Figure 7.

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 7, with parts broken away andshowing the parts in a different position.

Figure 9 is an irregular sectional view taken on line 9-9, Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line 1010, Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on line 1111, Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on line 1212, Figure 1, with partsomitted and with parts broken away.

Figure 13 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale, with partsomitted and parts broken away, and as taken on line 13-13, Figure 1.

Figure 14 is a view taken on line 14 -1 1, Figure 11.

Figure 15 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, with parts omittedand parts broken away, as taken on line 1515, Figure 13.

Figure 16 is a sectional view with parts omitted, taken on line 16-16,Figure 17.

Figure 17 is an irregular sectional view taken on line 17-17, Figure 3.

Figure 18 is a sectional view taken on line 1818, Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a detail sectional view taken on line 1919, Figure 2. I

In the present exemplification of the invention. there is shown twogates which operate in the same manner, and as the operation of both ofthe gates is the same, the specific description of one will applyequally as well to both.

Referring more particularly to the drawin gs the numeral designates abarrier gate which is constructed of any suitable material 10 which willpermit of the ends of the gate be;

' The cable 33 passes over a pull ing anchored and the body portiontherebetween being deflected without injury to the gate. 7 I

To that end any suitable means may be provided in the construction ofthe gate.

A simple and eiiicient construction, however, embodies a series ofcables 26 (see particularly Figure 5) which are connected to 'endmembers27 preferably by the ends of the cables aassing into tapering openings28 in the end member and fastening devices 29 which are threaded intothe end of the respective members 26, a washer 30 being provided betweenthe read 31 of the fastening member and the adjacent portion ofthe endmember. V

. Y These'end members provided with open portions 32, for a purpose tobe hereinafter set forth, and the gate is adapted to be raised andlowered by means of flexible cables 3334=, which are respectivelyconnected to the top of the'gate by means of resilient-members35 so thatwhen the gate is lowered and an impact 18 made against the gate todeflect it laterally' the resilient members 35 will yield. Y

I ey 36 and is adapted tobe wound thereon, the pulley being secured to ashaft 37 for rotation therewith, and in the present form of theinvention the shaft 37 and pulley 36 are arranged V in a frame orhousing 38 to protect them.

The cables 34; pass over suitable pulleys also arranged within thehousing.

Arranged in a suitable position butpreferably within a housing 40, is amotor '41 (see particularly Figure 2)' and connected with the shaft 42of the motor is a spiral gear143, a clutch 44; being arranged betweenthe motor and the spiral gear 43 for lock- 3 ing and unlocking the gearwith respect to the motor shaft'to cause. the gear, 43 to .be rotated orto arrest the motion thereof. This gear 43 meshes with a gear l laandconnectedtoithe gear 440 to rotate therewith is a beveled gear l5 whichin turn meshes with a beveled gear 46 secured to a shaft 47 (see alsoFigure 4) journaled in suitable bearings 48. Rotatably mountcdupon theshaft 47 are beveled gears 49 which are each connected for rotation witha clutch member 50 and keyed upon the shaft 47 and individual totheclutch members 50 are cooperating clutch members or shoes 51. The clutchmembers 51 are supported by and connected with the member 52 through theme dium of links 53 andthe member 52 is slidable upon and rotatable withthe shaft '47. Supporting members .54 are also provided for connectingthe clutch members 51 with the member 52 and springs 55 serve tonormally move the clutch members 5l away from :the clutch member 50while, a spring 56 tends normally to move-the clutch member 52 upon orinactive.

' The method of shifting the member 52 and for controlling the clutches5051 will be hereinafter described.

Meshing with the gears 49 is a gear 57 connected to and rotatable withan upright shaft 58 journaled insuitable bearings. Secured also to theshaft 58 is a gear 59 which meshes with a gear 60 that is-secured toashaft 61. Secured also to the shaft 61 is a gear 62 (see particularlyFigures 2'and 3) which meshes with a gear 63 secured to an' uprightshaft 64; This upright shaft 64; (see also Figure 15) has secured to itfor rotation therewith a gear 65 which meshes with a gear 66 that isconnected to the shaft 37.

It will therefore, be manifest that when the motor is operating motionwill be transmitted from the motor through the gear connections andshafts just described to the shaft 37 to rotate the drum 36 and therebywind the cable 33 thereupon or. cause the cable to be paid out from thedrum 36 according tothe direction of rotation of the shaft 37 and whichdirection-of rotation is: controlled by the clutch devices 5051.'

The gate is counterbalanced'in itsraising and lowering movements bymeans of weights 67 which are connected withthe cables 34 (seeparticularly Figures 12, 13 and 15) and these weights move uponguideways 68 with an intermediate guideway 69 arranged in a housing 70.'Projecting beyond the housing 7 O and adj acent each end of the gatearespaced guide- 'ways 71 into which the respective endsf27 of the gateare adapted to pass. These guideways "71 preferably terminate aconsiderable distance above'the ground and movable between-theseguideways'and upon. a track or guideway 7 2 are members 7 3'throughwhich the cables 34 and the members73 are prevented from dropping off oftlieguides 72 by means of a suitable shoulder'M.

The members 7 3 drop by gravity toward the lower end of the-guide 72 andproject a sufiicient distance beyond-the-guide that when the gate 25israised, they will remain stationary until they are contacted by aportion of the gateduring its raising movement, with the result that themembers 7 3 will then be carried upwardly by the rising gate. Likewise,when the gate is lowered the members will fallby'gravity to the lowerend of the guide 7 l These members 73 are provided order-to inc" s ring90 bein arranged between th 2) c Q 33 -3 end o the cable 8:; and thecross head or reduce to a minimum the swinging effect of the gate 25when the latter is raised or in position, as it will be manifest thatthe cables 34 passing through the slots 75 in the members 73 will swingfrom the members 73 stead of from the pulleys 39.

' When the gate is in its lowermost position 'means are provided foranchoring or locking the extremities thereof ends while the body formedby the cables or other suitable means is adapted to be deflected.

To that end there is provided a member (see particularly Figures 2, 3and which i provided with vertically spaced arms Z? terminating inhoolrs '58. Que of these members is arranged at each end of the gate andis removably supported between jaws or in open bearings 7 9 which areconnected with a rock shaft 80 journaled in bearings 81.

The rocl; shaft 80 is provided nth. an arm. 82 by means of which thelatter is rocked through the medium of a cable 83 (see also 5 and 9)that passes over a pulley 8% to a suitable operating mechanism, to behereinafter d scribed.

The member 76 is hold seated in the jaws-1 or bearings 79 by. means of acable flexible member 85 secured by one end as at to the member 76 andwhich cable passes between suitable guide rollers 87 and through a l 88and is connected atits other end to a ing cross head or member 89, acoinpen and for holding such portion of the gate member 89.

The cross head or member 89 moves be tween and is supported by guides 91and connected with the cross head or member 89 are piston rods 92 whichhave connected therewith pistons 93 that operate in cylinders 94:suitably supported. The cylinders 94: provided with a vent 95 throughwhich air may be drawn into the cylinders and expelled therefrom and ifdesired, the vents 95 of the cylinders may be connected by a pipe 95(see Figure 5) having a portion 95 open to atmosphere. When the pipe 95is employer it acts to balance the pressure in the cylinders 94. v

Springs 96 are anchored by one end as at 97 to a suitable fixed supportand connected to the other end of the respective springs 98 are cables98 which pass over suitable pulleys 99 and are connected by their otherends as at 100 with the cross head or member 89.

The springs 96 erect a tension to normally hold the pistons 93approximately in the position shown in Figure 9 and by their stress willhold the cross head or member 89 in its retractedposition as shown inFigure 9. This will cause the member 7 6 carrying the hook 7 8 to beseated in the bearings 79.

The normal position of the rock shaft- 80 and the hook member 76 is inthe position shown in Figure 11, that is in what might be termed aretracted position but are adapted to be operated in a manner to behereinafter set forth when an impact is made against the gate, to beswung from the position shown in Figures 9 and 11 to the position shownin ure 3, that is so that the hooks 78 will enter the open portions 32at the ends of the gate and thereby lock or anchor the ends of the gate.

In this position or as shown in Figure 3, when an impact is made againstthe gate the hook member 76 will be dislodged with respect to the bearigs or jaws 79 on the rock shaft 80 and stress will be exerted upon thecable 85 tending to move the cross head or member 89 forwardly in theguides 91 against he stress of the sprn 96 and against the yieldingresistance pro... ure of the air in th cylinders 94:, thereby formingcushion for the hooks 7 8 and also operating to yicldingly resist a caror vehicle which has impacted the gate and caused the gate to bedeflected laterally.

As soon the obstruction which has caused the impact or deflection of thehas been removed, the springs 96 will return the cross head or member 89and the pistons 93 in the cylinders 94- to their normal position. the C.css head or member 89 moves backwardly to its normal position c s willdraw the hook carrying member (3 back to its normal. on so as to beseated within the jaws or bearings 79.

The raising and lowering t the gates is controlled by the direction ofrotation of: the shaft 37 (see Figure 1) and the direction of rotationof this shaft i n turn controlled by tl e direction of rotation of ti overtical shaft 8 see Figure 2) which in turn is controlled V '1 b theclutch members 50. One of these clutch mom JQIS is adapted to berendered ac tive with respect tothe shaft 47 when the gate approachesthe limit of its upward movement and the other of the clutch members isrendered active with respect to the shaft l? when the "ate approachesthe limit of its lo I- ering movement so that when the motor isactuated, the latter being controlled by the approach and departure ofthe train as heretofore specified, the gate will be automatical lyraised or ercd.

Any suitable 11 cans may be prov ded for automatically rende the clutchdevices and 51 active and inactive. A simple and efficient means,however. embodies a pair of levers 101, each pivotally mountedintermediate ends as at 102. One end of each oi the levers is connectecby means of th usual yoke with the respective members of the clutches.These levers extend upwardly for a considerable distance above theirpivots 102 and are connected together by means of a cross bar 103, thelevers being pivotally connected respectively as at 104: with said barto cause the levers torock in unison when the bar is shiftedlongitudinally.

Mounted upon a suitable support are fulcrums 105 one for each of-theclutches. Piv- ,means of a link 109with a member 110,'the

links being respectively pivoted'to the bell crank lever and to themember 110.

The member 110 is pivotally mounted as at 111 (see also Figure'Z) upon afixed support and is provided with cam faces 112 which diverge from apoint 113. v

Connected to the cross bar 103'is a guide 114 embodying spaced membersbetween which the member 110 operates. A roller 115 operates in a slot116 in the member 110 and the cam faces 112 form one wall of the slot. r

A yoke 117 is privided in which the roller 11 5 is journaled and theyoke stands astride of the member 110 and is of a suti'icient length soas not to interfere with the rocking movement of the member 110. Aspring 118 is connected with the yoke 117 by one end and is anchored atits other end as at'119 to the cross baror member 103. lhe stress of thespring 118 is exerted upon the roller 115 to draw the latter against thecam faces 112 and owing to the arrangement of the cam faces 112 theroller 115 and the spring 113 assist in shifting the member 110 aboutits pivot 111 after the pivotal movement of the member 110 has beenstarted by the movement of the bell crank levers 107. I This is effectedin the following manner Mounted upon the shaft 61 (see particularlyFigures 2 and 5) is a drum 120 to which is secured-the ends of anendless flexible cable 121.v Thecable passesover suitable pulleys 122123 and also over pulleys 124: and through an'eye in the end of theguide mem 'ber 11% (see also Figures 7 and 8), collars or buttons 125beingsecured to the cable 121 and so positioned that they will bebrought into engagement with the end of the guide 11 1- to shift thelatter accordingto the direc tion of movement of the cable 121'.

The collars 'or buttons 125 are so located that when the gate isapproximately at the limit of its upward movement one of the collarswill be brought into engagement with the guide 11 1-, therebylongitudinally shifting the bar 103 to rock the levers 101, causing oneof the clutch members 52 tobe shifted upon the shaft 17 torender one ofthe clutch devices 50'active and the other inactive.

.,Assumi'ngthe cable 121 .(see Figure 2) to be moving toward the left,and the button or collar 125 is in contact with the end of the guidelll, a further movement of the cable in the same direction will shift the17 is rotated the shaft 61 will be rotated to 7 wind or unwind the cable121 from the drum The shifting of the bar 103 will rock the bell cranklevers 107 causing the. member 101 to tilt upon its pivot 111 toward theright in Figure 2. Just at the time that the memher 110 starts to moveabout its pivot, the stress of the spring 118 through the medium of theroller 115 will operate upon the cam face 112 and thereby assistinshifting the clutch and holding the clutch active. The collar or button125 will start the movement of the levers 101,"after which the spring118 and roller 115 will causea further movement of the member 110 inthesame direction.

As soon as the gate reaches itsupper or lowermost movement according towhich of the clutches is rendered active, the active clutch will berenderedinactive and the inactive clutoh will be rendered" active toreverse the direction of movement of the gate when the motor againstarts.

Thus it will be seen that the clutch members 50 are responsive in theiroperation to the position or travel of the gate.

The motor llis connected to or disconnected with respect to the shaft 42'(see Figure 2) i to rotate the shaft 47 by means of the clutch 1 1 andthe clutch 14 is controlled by the raismg and'lowering movement of thegate.

To that end there is prov1ded a shaft 126 (see particularly Figures 2,3, 16 and '18) and Secured to the shaft 126 isa disc 129 which isprovided on opposite faces thereof with shoulders or projections 130,and secured to a rocker'shaft 131 are rocker members 132, each of whichis provided with a shoulder 133 to co-operate with a'stop 13 1 to limitthe pivotal movement of the respective rocker members 132 in onedirection. Springs 135 indi vidual to the members 132 tendnormally tohold the respective shoulders 133 against the respective stops 13 1.

A portion 136 of each ofthe members 132 is arranged in the path ofmovement of the respective shoulder or projection 130 and the members132 to ether with the shoulders 130 are so arranged that during themovement of the disc 129 in onedir ction one of the members 132 will berocked by its respective shoul- V der 130 and during the movement of;the member 129 in the opposite direction; the

respective member 132 will be rocked by its shoulder 130. a

' rocked.

Connected with the other end of each of the bell crank levers 137 is acable 141 (see also Figure 2) and these cables are connected to a slide142 through the medium of a member 143 secured to the slide. The slide142 is provided with a bifurcated laterally projecting extension 144into which aprojection 145 extends and the projection 145 (see alsoFigure is connected to one end of a lever 146, the latter beingpivotally mounted intermediate its ends as at 147, the other end of thelever 146 being bifurcated as at 148 and has connection with a collar149, which in turn is connected with one of the clutch 1nemhers 44. v

A spring 150 (see particularly Figure 3) is connected with the slide 142and tendsnormally to move it in a direction to render the clutch 44active.

When, however, one or the other of the rocking members 132 is actuatedby the shoulders or projections 130 on the member 129 the slide 142 willbe moved against the stress of the spring 150 and thereby render theclutch149 inactive to disconnect the motor 41 with respect to the shaft42 and thereby allow the gate to remain in its adjusted position.

This operation takes place just at the time when the gate reaches itsuppermost or lowermost position.

The disc or member 129 does not make a complete revolution butoscillates backwardly and forwardly, one of the shoulders 130operatively engaging its respective rock member 132 approximately at theend of one direction of oscillation, while the other member 132 engagesits respective rock member 130 just at the limit of the oscillation ofthe member 129 in the opposite direction, so that the member 41 will beconnected and disconnected with respect to the shaft 42 and the rais andlowering mechanism of the gate at the proper time in the cycle ofoperation of the device.

When the gates reach the limit of their lowermost movement the hookmembers 76 are positioned so that the hooks 78 thereon will engage inthe open end portions 32 of the gate and the positioning of these hooksis controlled by the rocking movement of the members 132, the hooksbeing moved through the medium of one of the rocking members 130. Tothat end there is provided a bell crank lever 151 (see particularlyFigure 18) pivotally mounted intermediate its ends as at 152. One end ofthe bell crank lever is provided with an opening 153 therein having asurface 154 over which a roller 155 carried by the rocker arm 136 movesto rock the bell crank lever 151 in one direction.

Connected to the other arm 156 of the bell crank lever 151 is one end ofthe cable 83 that in turn connected with the arm 82 of the rock shaft 80(see also Figures 5 and 9) that move the hook members 76 into and out ofactive position. When the rock member 132 (see Figure 18) moved aboutits pivot from the full line to the dotted line position in said figure,it will move the bell crank lever 151 to the position shown in dottedlines and in order to maintain the hooks in this adjusted position apair of links 157 are pivotally connected as at 158, one of the linksbeing pivotally mounted as at 159 and the other being pivotallyconnected as at 160 to the arm 156 of the lever 151. hen the lever 151assumes the position shown in full lines in Figure 18, the links 157will be knuckled with respect to each other but when the lever 151 ismoved to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 18, to hold thehooks in a locking'position with respect to the gate the links 157 willbe locked with respect to each other to maintain the arm 156 of thelever 151 in the dotted line position. These parts will remain in thisposition until just before one of the shoulders or projections 130 onthe disc 129 engages the rock member 136 to shift the clutch 44 on t 1emotor and at this time the links 157 will be knuckled with respect toeach other against the stress of the spring 160, through the medium ofan arm 161 which is pivotally mounted as at 162. A. pair of links163-164 are pivotally connected as at 165 and a spring 166 tendsnormally to hold the links 163-164 in the position shown in Figure 18 sothat the shoulders 167 will abut and at this time the end of the link163 will be held in the path of movement of a cam or finger 168connected with the shaft 126. The link 164 is provided with abifurcation 169 in which a pin 170 on the end of the arm 161 operates.

The arm 161 is provided with a projection 171 which is normally held ina retracted position by means of a spring 172.

When the arm 156 of the bell crank lever 151 is in the dotted lineposition shown in' Figure 18 and the links 157 locked with respect toeach other, to hold the hooks 78 in a locking position with respect tothe gate, they will remain in this position until the cam or finger 168on the disc 129 engages the end of the link 163 to rock the same aboutits pivot 165 and in turn rock the arm 161 to cause the projection 171to knuckle the links 157 with respect to each other, thereby unlockingthe bell crank lever 151 and the arm 156 thereof to permit the same tobe re turned totheir normal position under the influence of the spring135' and thereby rehooks 78' to engage in the open portions 32' tractthe hooks 78. Y r

i It: will thus be seen that the hook members 78 will be automaticallypositioned or retracted by the operation of the members i 132 andthese-members 132 are controlled in tation of the shaft 37 and this inturn is controlled-bythe clutches 50 and 51 which are shifted by meansof the cable 121. The cable operating to shift the bar 103'to rock thelevers 101-at the limit of the upperand lower movement of the gate, themember being shifted by the member 103 through the bell crank levers 107to assist in throwing the clutches.

ment in one direction or the other, the shoulders or projections on thedisc 129 will rock the respective member 132 to render the clutch 14: ofthe motor active and inactive to arrest the movement of the gate.

1 When the gate is down the rock member 132 will rock the lever 151' andposition the ofthe gate and thereby lock the same against lateralswinging movement. Should an impactbe made upon the gate when the latteris down, the hooks 78 will yield being un seated fromtheir bearings 79(see Figure 2),

causing the cross head 89 (see Figure 9) to c be moved forwardly,thereby moving the piston's 93 in the cylinder 94 to cushion suchmovement,

soon as the obstruction or impact is re lieved from the gate 25'tl1esprings 96 will retract the coss head 89 and withdraw the pi tons'93 aswell as seat the hook member 76 in its seat or bearings 79.

In the event that no'impact has been made upon the gate 25 and it isdesired to raise the gate, the hooks 78 are withdrawn by the action ofthe cami or finger 168 on the disc 129 rocking the links 163-164:toknucklethe links 157 allowing the bell crank lever. 151 to be returnedto their normal positions under the influenceof the spring which willretract the hooks and allow the gate to besubsequently raised. r I e Theclutch 4.4 which controls the connection of the motor with the apparatusis also adapted to be rendered inactive by the deflection of the gate,that is when the members 76 carrying the hooks 7 8'are dislocated ordisconnected from the seat 79 on the member 89 and to that end there isprovideda cable 173 (see particularly Figures 2, 3, 9, 15 and 17) As thegate reaches the limit of its movewithout and which cable passes oversuitable pulleys V174 and is connected by one end with a member 175rotatable on a horizontal axis 176, see particularly Figure 19, themember176 being provided with a lateral projection 177 adapted to engagea stop 178. i Y The normal position of the member 175 is in the positionas shown in Figure 19, but is adapted to be moved about its pivot whenthe cross head 89 is advanced, through the medium of'a rack 17 9which'engages the toothed periphery of the member 175. As

the member 89 advances the rack 17 9 will turn the member 175 until thepojection 177 moves to the other side of the center of the axis 176 soas to enga'ge the shaft 178 and will be held in this position as thestress of the spring which controls the clutch 14: will hold'theprojection 177 against-the stop 178. During the advancement of themember 89, and should the rack 179 not pass out of engagement with theteeth of the member 175,

the latter will beheld against return move- Inent by the engagementofthe rack therewith, but when the rack passes-out of engagement with themember 175, the connection 177, as before stated, will pass over thecenter and engage the'stop 17 8.

When the cross head 89' returns, and the rack 179 engages with the teethof the memher 175, the latter will be rotated backwardly to anormalposition and thereby permit the clutchl to become active. r

The other end of the cable 173 is connected with the member 143 on thebar or rod 142 which shiftsthe lever'146 (see particularly Figure 3)about the pivot 147 to control the clutch 4:4.

In the event that the power should fail and the motor 41 should notoperate, means are provided whereby the apparatus may be operated byhand. I

To that end there is provided a shaft or extension 180 (see particularlyFigure 3) connected with the shaft upon which the gear 45 is mounted.This extension is mounted in suitable bearings 181 and-the end of theextension is preferably angular in cross section so as to receive acrank, by means of which the apparatus may be operated by hand, accessbeing had to apply the crank to the shaft 180 through a suitable opening182 in the casing wall and which opening may be closed by means of anysuitable closing device.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various changes may be made inthe details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, within thescope of the claims,

departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is: o 7 11; railroad crossing gate embodying agate proper, means embodying a motor for raising and lowering'the gate,means operating automatically to render the raising and lowering meansinactive with respect to the gate when the latter reaches the limit ofits movement in the'respective di *ections, and means for automaticallyreversing the direction 01" operation of said raising and lowering meanswhile the direction of operation of the motor remains constant.

2. A" railroad crossing gate embodying means for actuating the gate,said means embodying'an actuating shaft, a plurality of clutchesassociated with the shaft, one for raising and one for lowering thegate, means operating to automatically render one of the clutches activeand the other inactive when the approaches the limit of its travel inthe respective directions, power mechanism, means embodying a clutchdevi e for connecting said power mechanism with said shaft, and meansoperating automatically to render the last said clutch device inactivewhen the gate reaches the limit of its travel in either cirection.

3. A railroad crossing gate embodying means for actuating the gate,saidmeans embodying an actuating shaft, a plurality of clutchesassociatedwith the shaft, one for raising and one for lowering the gate,means operating to automatically render one of the clutches active andthe other inactive when the gate approaches the limit of its travel inthe respective directions, power mechanism, means embodying a clutchdevice for connecting said power mechanism with said shaft, and meansoperating automatically to render the last said clutch device inactivewhen the gate reaches the limit of its travel in either direction, thesecond recited means emhodyin g means for imparting an initial movementto the respective clutch and additional means for imparting a quickmovement to the clutch beyond the limit of the said initial movementthereof.

4. A railroad crossing gate embodying means for actuating the gate, saidmeans embodying actuating shaft, a plurality of clutches associated withthe shaft, one for raising and one for lowering the gate, meansoperating to automatically render one'of the clutches active and theother inactive when the gate a oaches the limit of its travel in therespective directions, power mechanism,

means embodying clutch device for connect ing said power mechanism withsaid shaft, and means operat' automatically to render the last said cluch vice inactive wnen the gate reaches the limit of its travel in eitherdirection, tie second recited means embodying means for imparting aninitial move ment to the respective clutches and a cam device and aspring pressed roller co-operating with the cam devi e'tor imparting aquick beyond the limit of movement to the clinch the said initialmovement.

5. A railroad crossing gate, means for raising and lowering the gate,means for automatically rendering the respective raising and loweringmeans inactive at the limit of the movements of the gate, locking meansdisposed only adjacent the outer ends of the gate for locking said endswhen gate is in a barricading position, and means operatively related tosaid securing means whereby the entire gate intcrmecate the said outerends may be adapted for lateral deflection while the said looting meansremain active.

6. A railroad crossing gate, means for raising and lowering the ga'e,means for au- "omatically rendering the respective raising ml low ingmeans inactive th limit oi h means for sec l cion for anchoring the endsof the gate, resilient means for maintaining the locking means in a.active position and adapted to yield to permit the gate to be d flectedl ter: lly, and means for automation said locking means active and saidresilic means embodying a cushionin device for retarding such deflectionof the gate.

8. A railroad crossi c means for raising and lowering he gate, locaingmembers separate from the gate am adapted to he moved into interen withthe ends of the gate for anchoring ends when the gate is in abarricading position, resiliently yielding means for ancho"- ing saidlocking members, whereby the when the ends thereof are anchored will badapted for lateral. deflection, and means operating automatically atpredetermined times in the cycle of operation of the gate fo moving saidlocking members into and out 0: active positions with respect to theends of the gate.

9. A railroad crossing gate embodying means for raising and lowering thegate. locking members s irate from the ate and adapted to be moved intointc-rengagcment 1 the ones of the gate for 1 wn a when the gate is in ab vieloing means automatically at pro letern ncd times in tive positionswith respect to the ends of the gate, and cushioning means for yieldingly resisting the lateral deflection of the gate.

10. A railroad crossing gate embodying means .for rai'singand loweringthe gate, locking members separate from the gate and adaptedv to bemoved into inter-engagement with the ends of the gate for anchoring saidends when the gate is in abarricading position, resiliently yieldingmeans for anchoring said locking members, whereby the gate when the endsthereof are anchored will be adapted for lateral deflection, meansoperating automatically at predetermined times in the cycle of operationof the gate for moving said locking members into and out of activepositions with respect to the ends of the gate, and cushioning meansembodying relatively movable cylinder-and piston membersfor yieldinglyreslstmg the lateral do flection of. the gate. I 11. A railroad crossinggate, means for raising and lOWQIHE the gate, locking members, supportsupon which the lockingmembers are removably seated, means forautomatically swinging the supports to cause the said locking members tomove into interengagement with the ends of the gate when the latter isin a barricacingposition to anchor said ends, and means for yieldinglyholding said locking members upon their support whereby the lockingmembers will yield with respect to their support to permit the gate to.lie-deflected laterally while the locking members remain'aotiveformaintaining the ends of the gate anchored thereby.

-12. A railroad crossing gate, means for raising and lowering the gate,locking members, supports upon which the locking members are removablyseated, means for automatically swinging the supports to causethe saidlocking members to move into interengagement with the ends of the gatewhen the latter is in a barricading position to. an

chor said ends, and means for yieldingly holdin said locking membersupon their support whereby the locking members will yield with respectto their support to permit the gate to be deflected laterally while thelocking members remain active for main tainingthe ends of the gateanchoredthereby, the last recited means embodying cylin der' and pistonelements movable one with relation to the other by the displacement ofsaid locking members with respect to their support. 13. A railroadcrossing gate, means for raising and lowering the gate, locking meansfor anchoring the ends of the gate when the latter is in a barricadingposition, means responsive to the lowering movement of the gate andautomatically rendered active at a predetermined time in the cycle ofoperation of the gate for rendering said locking means active, and meansoperating to permit the gate to be deflected laterally. when the endsthereof are anchored by said locking means, the last said means alsooperating'to return the gate to normal position a ter deflection thereofand while its ends are anchored.

14. A railroad crossing gate embodying means for raising and loweringthegate, locking means for anchoring the ends of the gate when in abarricading position, means for rendering the locking means active andinactive, resiliently yielding means mounting said locking means forlateral movement thereby adapting said gate for lateraldeflecion whenthe ends thereof are anchored, and cushioning means for resisting saidlateral deflection, said cushioningmeans and said resiliently yieldingmeans operating one in opposition to the other.

15. A railroad crossing gate embodying means for raising and loweringthe gate, said means embodying cablesby which the gate is suspended,guideways, and followers mounted to move freelyupon said guideways andthrough which followers the respective cables loosely pass, saidfollowers being movable upon the guideways by the said gate only atpredetermined times in the cycle of operation of the gate and serving toreduce to a minimum the swinging action of the gate by said cables. i V

16. A railroad crossing gate embodying means for raising and lower thegate, said means embodying cables by which the gate is suspended,guideways for receiving and guiding the ends of the gate during itsraising and lowering movements, and followers mounted to'move freelyupon said guideways and through which followers the respective cablesloosely pass, said followers being movfor rendering said locking membersactive and inactive, the last said means embodying a pivotally mountedlever, an actuating member, means tending normally to move the actuatingmember in one direction to' correspondingly shift said lever, andpositive means automatically rendered active at a predetermined time inthe cycle of operation of the gate for moving said actuating memberagainst the stress of the fourth recited means to move said lever'in theopposite direction. f,

18. A railroad crossing gate, means for raising and lowering the gate,said means embodying a motor and a clutch operatively connecting saidmotor and the said means, locking members, means for automaticallyrendering said locking members active to lock the end of said gate whenthe latter is in a barricading' position, means for automaticallyrendering said clutch inactive during the time that the said lockingmeans are active with respect to the gate, and means adapting said gatefor lateral deflection while the said locking means are active.

19. A railroad crossing gate, means for raising and lowering the gate,said means embodying a motor and a clutch operatively connecting saidmotor and the said means, locking members, means for automaticallyrendering said locking members active to lock the end of said gate whenthe latter is in a barricading position, means for automaticallyrendering said clutch inactive during the time that the said lockingmeans are active with respect to the gate, means adapting said gate forlateral deflection while the said locking means are active, the saidraising and lowering means embodying a driving shaft, a driven shaft, aplurality of clutches forconnecting the driving and driven shafts, andmeans common to the last said clutches and operating to render one ofthem active when the gate approaches the limit of its movement in onedirection and to render the other active when the gate approaches thelimit of its movement in the opposite direction.

20. A railroad crossing gate, means for raising and lowering the gate,said means embodying a motor and a clutch operatively connecting saidmotor and the said means locking members, means for automaticallyrendering said locking members active to lock the end of said gate whenthe latter is in a barricading position, means for automaticallyrendering said clutch inactive during the time that the said lockingmeans are active with respect to the gate, means adapting said gate forlateral deflection while the said locking means are active, and meansresponsive to the lateral deflection of said gate while the ends thereofare locked, for also rendering said clutch inactive.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, onthis 20th day of June, A. D. 1930.

ELMER' C. KRAGE.

